Opera-chair



W Y. 0 B ER (No Model.)

OPERA CHAIR.

Nv PUERS. Plmm-Lmmgmpler. washington. D, c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VIELIAM Y. OBER, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN Y VENTILATIN G COMPANY, OF PORTLAND, MAIN E.

OPERA-CHAIR.

` SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 374,424, dated December 6, 1887.

Application filed September 2l, 1836; Serial No. 214,137. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VV'ILLIAM Y. OBER, of,

Lynn, county of Essex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in 5 Opera-Chairs, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing' like parts.

rIhis invention has for its object to construct 1o an operachair whereby fresh air issuing from any suitable air-forcing apparatus-as, for instance, a blower-and forced through suitable pipes may be conveyed or distributed into a l theater or hall in proximity to the persons in attendance, to thus supply fresh air at points most needed.

The invention consists of a chair the framework of which, comprising the standard and y back, is made hollow to form an air-passage, 2o an air chamber or receptacle being formed at the top ofthe back of the chair, the said chamber having an open side or face covered with gauze or open-work plate, the chamber having a valve under thc control of an individual near the chair, to thus permit air to pass outward through the said gauze openwork plate into the room.

My invention also consists of a chair the frame-work of which is made hollow to provide an air-passage, combined with a chamber or receptacle located at the top of the chair,

and having an open side or face through which the air is discharged; also, in a chair framework inade hollow to provide au ainpassage f extending vertically thereof, combined with a tube leading from the said air-passage near its upper end and a perforated air chamber or re ceptacle attached to the end of the said tube.

I have shown the said air chamber or passage 4o as having connected with it a flexible tube provided at its end with a perforated air-distributer, the admission 0f air to the distributer being controlled .by any suitable cock or plug.

Figure 1 shows in side elevation a chair embodying this invention; Fig. 2, a face view of the chamber at the top of the chair; Fig. 3, a4

detail of the valves and means for operating them.

The chair herein described is composed, es

5o sentially, of a standard or post, u, back b, and

arm c, all preferably cast in one piece and constituting the frame-workof the chair. A seat, d, is pivoted or otherwise connected with the front armorstandard, c, in any usual manner. The framework of the chair is cast hollow, as shown by dotted lines, Figs. l and 2, so as to leave passages through which air may be forced. The air-passage extending through the framework terminates in an air chamber or receptacle, e, located at the top of the chair- 6o back b, one side of the said chamber being open and covered with a screen or other perforated or open-work plate,f. Two valveplates, 2 3, (see Fig. 3,) mounted upon shafts 4 5, are placed within the chamber e, to permit 55 or to prevent, as may be desired, the passage of air outward through the said screen or plate f. The shafts 4 5 of the valves have their bearings in the ends of the said chamber. One end of one shaft, as 5, is provided with a crank, 7o 6, by which it may be rotated. A toothed wheel, 7, is mounted uponvthe opposite end of the said shalt, which, meshing with a similar toothed wheel, 8, secured to the shaft 4, rorates the latter shaft, so that the valves may be opened and closed by rotating the said crank. An opening, n, made in the backb ot' the chair and communicating with the air-passage, has attached to 'it a iexible tube, a', provided with a perforated ball, ai, preferably 8o made of rubber, the passage of air from the tube to the ball being controlled -by any suitable cock or plug, a3.

A chair constructed as described being seated over the end of an air supplying pipe, A, 85 firmly secured to the licor, and a suitable rubber washer, fw, having been interposed to make atight joint, air is forced through the supplypipe A by anysuitable air-forcing apparatussuch, for instance, as an ordinary faublower 9o the air passing upward through the framework of the chair passing out through the gauze plate f or through the perforated ball n2, or both, at the option of a person at or near the chair.

It will be seen that by the invention herein described fresh air may be admitted to a theater or hall at just such points as it is most needed, and may be controlled by the individual in attendance, thus amply providing roo for all, and in instances where a slight draft of fresh air is desired the perforated ball only may be used, the said ball being, as previously stated, attached to a vflexible tube, that it may be placed and allowed to remain at any desired point.

I claim- 1. In a chair, the frame-work comprising the standard and back made hollouT to form an air passage, as described, combined with a chamber arranged at the top of the back and having a perforated or open side, and Valves controlling the passage ot' air therethrough, substantially as described.

2. In a chair, the frame-Work conigrisiug the standard and back iliade hollow to forman air-passage, as described, combined with a chamber arranged at the top of the back and having a perforated or open side, substantially as described.

3. In a chair, the framework thereof made hollow to forni an air passage or pipe, as described, combined With a tube, n', leading from said air-passage, and an airdistributor attach ed to the endof the said tube, substantially as described.

4t. In a chair, the frame-Work thereof made hollow to form an air-conduit, as described, combined with a tube, n, leading from said air-passage, and an airdistributer attached to the end of said tube, and a valve or cock controlling the passage of air to said distributer, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof Ihave signed my name l to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

WILLIAM Y. OBER. Vitnesses: BnRNIoE J. NoYus, F. L. EMERY. 

